I didn’t see HANDS on its original release in 1971 as part of a double bill with TWINS OF EVIL although I did see the latter coupled with a different movie. During my college years I haunted the drive-ins in search of Hammer and Euro-Gothic horror films but tastes were changing. The giallo films of Dario Argento and others began to take hold and inexorably the films became more graphic and contemporary. I was a big Jack the Ripper fan having seen the 1959 film of the same name and the 1965 A STUDY IN TERROR where John Neville’s Sherlock Holmes did battle with him. 1979’s MURDER BY DECREE with Christopher Plummer & James Mason became my favorite Ripper film. TIME AFTER TIME was fun and FROM HELL had its moments but I kept wanting to see this one. Try as I might though, I could not get my hands on a copy of HANDS and I never had the opportunity to catch it on TV.
A few years ago I obtained a Region 2 copy and was surprised by how lavish the film looked and at how violent it was. The lead performances by Eric Porter (after FORSYTE SAGA) and Angharad Rees (before POLDARK) showed a depth I wasn’t used to in a Hammer release and the ending was truly remarkable. It quickly became one of my favorite Hammer films. This new Blu-Ray/DVD combo by Synapse Films is not only welcome, but it’s an improvement on the old one. The DVD is better but the Blu-Ray is truly stunning. Not only is the picture quality top notch but the extra features including the featurette on Hammer producer Aida Young was fascinating and helped to explain a lot regarding Hammer’s later films. I won’t go into the story as so many other reviews have but if you love period horror especially Hammer’s brand of it then this one is a must for your collection. Check out the flipside slipcover for some real non-truth in advertising especially from Rees’ point-of-view.
The Capsule Critic 